The Philippine National Police has filed charges against at least 200 individuals, including a retired general, a congressman, and several businessmen, over violent incidents that occurred during the anti-corruption rallies on September 21.
In a press briefing on Monday, December 1, acting PNP chief Lt. Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. said that other cases are being tried in court.
“Not less than 200 ang na-file-an natin ng kaso doon, and these cases ay yung iba nililitis na,” he said.
(We have filed no less than 200 cases, and some of these are already undergoing trial.)
He added that charges include violations of Batas Pambansa No. 880, arson, physical injuries, and inciting to sedition, although he did not provide a complete breakdown of the cases.
For his part, Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) Director Maj. Gen. Robert Alexander Morico II declined to disclose the names of those charged.
“There is a congressman. There is a retired high-ranking general among those na nakasuhan. There are businessmen. Continuing ang investigation namin,” he said.
(There is a congressman. A retired high-ranking general is among those charged. There are businessmen. Our investigation is continuing.)
“In fact, hinihintay namin na magkamali ulit sila during this group, but apparently, they knew that some personalities na sinubpoena namin noon have realized that you can criticize the government but do not play the law of the land,” he added.
(In fact, we were waiting for them to make another mistake during this group, but apparently, some of the individuals we subpoenaed have realized that while one can criticize the government, they must also respect the law.)
Earlier, the CIDG confirmed that it had filed two criminal complaints against Cavite Representative Francisco “Kiko” Barzaga over the violent incidents that occurred during the protests on September 21 and October 12.
